Book signing by Northwest Indiana History Author

Event Information

4:47am - 4:47am

Miles Books at 2819 Jewett Ave in downtown Highland is hosting an author signing for local writer and award-winning journalist Joseph S. Pete, a Lisagor and Inland Press Association honoree, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 30 for the new book “Lost Hammond, Indiana.” The book is a wonderful history of Hammond and greater Northwest Indiana that is 204 pages and has 89 photographs. The retail is $21.99 plus tax.

From publisher The History Press:

Discover the lost history of Hammond. In the heart of the Calumet Region, hardworking Hammond helped build America. Originally known as State Line Slaughterhouse, the city began as no more than a meatpacking plant for nearby Chicago. In time, the city grew, and at its industrial height, trains, chains, cigars, shirts, candy, nuts, player pianos, commercial wallpaper, concrete roof slabs, gutters, boilers, potato digging devices, screws, and steel products poured from its many factories. Meanwhile, its many racetracks and casinos earned it the title of “Atlantic City on the Lake.” The city also nurtured Jean Shepherd of A Christmas Story fame and was even home to an early NFL team. Hammond-born journalist Joseph S. Pete explores bygone landmarks like Phil Smidt’s, Madura’s Danceland, the State Theatre, the Woodmar Mall, and the W.B. Conkey factory, all of which now live only in legend. The rollicking, wide-reaching, and in-depth look at the history of a highly industrialized Northwest Indiana city originally had the subtitle: “Tales of Jean Shepherd's 'A Christmas Story,' Soap Flake Snow, Sears, a Burning River, Babushkas, Mobsters, a Movie Theater Bombing, Race Cars, Rockette-Dancing Frogs Legs, the Birth of 3 Floyds Brewing, Thrill Killers, and the NFL’s Early Days.” It covers everything to the city’s origins to thrilling tales of true crime to the gestation of legends like Sears co-founder Alvah Curtis Roebuck, hardcore wrestling legend Terry Funk, and National Football League Hall of Famer and trailblazer Fritz Pollard. Take a stroll down nostalgia lane with “Lost Hammond, Indiana.”

Joseph S. Pete was born in Hammond and lived by the city for much of his life. He’s an award-winning journalist for the Times of Northwest Indiana, an Iraq War vet, an IU grad, the Northwest Indiana Literary Journal editor and a frequent guest on Lakeshore Public Radio. His work has appeared in 150 literary journals, including Spirits, Dogzplot, and McSweeney’s Internet Tendency, and in books like Indiana at 200 and Poets to Come: Walt Whitman’s Bicentennial. He never misses Festival of the Lakes.

Miles Books can ship a signed copy(s) across the US (mc/v/ax). If you cannot make the author signing, please call to reserve your copy(s) at a later pickup. 219-838-8700.

For the author signing, we are required to practice safe social distancing per state mandate. We strongly encourage face masks for the safety of all.Tell a friend about a talented local author Joseph S. Pete and his very detailed history of Hammond. Miles Books. Local. Independent. Since 1984

Miles Books is back to somewhat normal hours on Monday. Daily 11-6, Sat. 11-4. Open with safe social distancing for walk-ins. Signed copies of the book "Lost Hammond, Indiana" are available in our store. We ship across the United States. 2819 Jewett Ave. Highland, IN. 219-838-8700.

Shop with little Demetrios, a local, independent bookseller. Over 74,000 titles to browse. What we don't have, we can order. Call ahead for contactless payment, curbside pickup up if requested. We encourage that all wear a mask.

Miles Books is back to somewhat normal hours. Daily 11 a.m.-6 p.m, Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Open with safe social distancing for walk-ins. Signed copies of the book "Lost Hammond, Indiana" are available in our store. We ship across the U.S. 2819 Jewett Ave. Highland, IN. 219-838-8700.

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